USDA freezes UW project that turns Washington shellfish farmers’ seaweed problem into soil solution for land farmers

UW News

The Blue Carbon, Green Fields project was a multi-year collaboration between the UW, Baywater Shellfish, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Washington Sea Grant, Washington State University, and farm business incubator Viva Farms, focused on removing more than 17,000 pounds of seaweed from shellfish beds and applying it to crops on four local farms. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the project in 2023, but then abruptly pulled the plug in April 2025. Food Systems core faculty Sarah Collier is the project lead and is featured in this video and story talking about how the project hopes to continue with alternate funding.

August 4, 2025